Seven hours after police discovered the body of 42-year-old James Michael Peters inside his home at 1806 Minot Avenue in Auburn, officials reopened the road to traffic Saturday morning.

Several questions still remain surrounding his death and that of his mother, 70-year-old Margaret Peters, who police say he shot and killed with an assault rifle at about 10:30 Friday morning.

Police still haven’t announced whether the gunshot that killed James Michael Peters was self-inflicted or fired from one of the several law enforcement officials caught in a crossfire with the gunman late Friday night.

Margaret Peters’ body remained in the driveway as the standoff continued into the night.

At about 3 a.m., police entered the home and found James Peters dead, according to Auburn police Chief Phil Crowell.

The investigation into the deaths of both victims began immediately Saturday morning.

Peter’s body was found near a window that police had fired at earlier in the night, police said. Because of the possibility that he may have died as a result of police gunfire, the Maine Attorney General’s Office will investigate that part of the incident.

Officers had been negotiating with Peters through a loudspeaker for 18 hours, continuing even after he shot at them several times throughout the night.Police said Michael James Peters was holed up in his Minot Avenue home with an assault rifle late Friday.

A long history of family violence and tragedy may have led to the killing of the Auburn woman. Peters, who lived with his mother police said, was believed to have shot her after a dispute about living arrangements.

During the course of the standoff, Peters exchanged gunfire with police at least twice. A Maine State Police trooper was injured when he was struck in the face by flying glass, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

The injuries were not serious and the officer remained at the site, McCausland said.

“Consider what you just did. You shot at us,” a State Police negotiator said through a public address system following the hail of gunfire. “Put the gun down. This is obviously no way to resolve the situation.”

At about 5:20 p.m. people in the area heard a hostage negotiator telling the shooter over a megaphone, “Come on out. Put your weapon down. We’ll ensure you’ll get the treatment you need.”

There was shouting and a dog barking as several gunshots rang out, first a series of staccato pops, followed by a rapid burst.

“Mike, this is no way to have the situation end,” the negotiator called out. Later, the negotiator said, “Mike, the only peaceful solution is for you to put your hands up, put your weapons down. Don’t fire at anyone again. We want to help you.”

“We’ve been out here a long time. Our patience is wearing thin,” the negotiator said.

Police fired percussion grenades into the house, in an apparent attempt to rattle Peters or to get his attention. They tried offering cigarettes and food. They told Peters they would not shoot if he came outside unarmed.